Improvement in combined shirt-bosom supports and shoulder-braces



, s. F. Lons. combined snm Bosa m Supports and Shoulder-Braces. No. 140,379.

PatentedJuIyI, 1873.

@L I l Invehol'. Ww e@ @W6 M AM, Mom-uTHomAPH/c Co. mi( Osage/sk PROCESSJ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL F. LONG, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED SHIRT-BOSOM SUPPORTS AND SHOULDER-BRACES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 140,379, dated July 1, 1873; application filed May 16, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL F. LONG, of Cleveland, in the county'of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new and improved Shirt-Preserver, Shoulder-Brace, and Uhest-Protector combined, of which the following is a full, clear, and complete description:

Figure l is Va view of the shirt-preserver applied to the body. Fig. 2 is a front view of the shirt-preserver, having parts broken away to show the springs thereof'. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views.

The nature of this invention relates to a shirt-preserver, shoulder-brace, and chest-protector combined. It performs three offices. First, it protects the shirt-bosom from rumpling or folding up and soiling from perspiration; second, it `keeps the shoulders in an erect, easy, and healthy position; thirdly, it protects the chest from the inclemency of the weather, &c.; all of which Y is more fully described as follows:

B, Figs. l and 2, is a steel spring, being slightly rounded to conform to the shape of the body. A is also a spring rounding to the shape of the lower part ofthe neck, both of which are padded on the inside and covered with a piece of fabric. Near the ends of said springs A B are secured, by rivets or otherwise, two other springs C D, indicated by the dotted lines x, Fig. 2. These are also curved to the sha-pe of the chest, as shown in Fig. 3. In the center of the springs A B, and between the two side springs C D is also secured a fifth spring, E, as shown in Fig. 2, which is curved a little more than the two side springs, for the purpose of keeping the shirt-bosom from touching the chest;V all of which springs are covered'with a piece of texile fabric or y other suitable material, f, as shown in Figs.

and 3, for the purpose of fastening the shirtpreserver on, as will presently be shown.

The mode of fastening -the preserver to the body is as follows: The strap H secured to one end of the spring B is passed around the waist of the person and hooked on the opposite end of the spring, thus securing the lower spring B, as shown in said Fig. 1. On the end I of the spring A is also fastened a strap, which is fastened in the center, thereby forming two sections, F G. rlhe strap F passes up .over the left shoulder across the back, (as indicated by the dotted lines d,) under the right arm-pit, and fastens to the hooks b. The stra-p G is then passed under the left arm-pit across the back, (as indicated by the dotted lines 6,) over the right shoulder, vand fastens on the said hook b by the loops or eyes c at the ends of the straps. To prevent the straps F G from cutting or chan g under the arms, straps J K may be used, the straps J being attached to the strap F, as shown in Fig. 3, and the strap K is fastened to the spring B, as shown in Fig. 2, the strap G passing through the ring c of the strap K. When the preserver is fastened on the body, as shown in Fig. l, the strap J attached to the strap F is then hooked on the hook b of the spring B by the loop or eye o, Fig. 3, and the strap K, fastened to the end of the spring B, is then attached to the strap G, Fig. 2, the straps F and G passing around the body with or Without the straps J K, in the same manner as above described.

By wearing one of these shirt-preservers the chest is also protected from injury. For instance, persons who write a great deal are more or less apt to rest their chests against the edge of the desk or table on which they are writin g, thereby injuring their chests; whereas, if they were to wear this preserver, the springs thereof would rest against the desk instead of their chests, thereby making it much more comfortable and healthy for the persons Writing. It may also be used in stormy weather, as it will protect the chest from dampness and cold.

What I claim as my invention7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The springs C D and E and A B, as arranged, in combination with the coveling j and elastic straps F, G, and H, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

SAMUEL F. LONG. WVitnesses:

J. H. BURRIDGE, J. R. HOLDEN. 

